Wednesday, March 10, 2010

People in business
Staci Hawkins CPS/CAP, executive assistant at Zachry Engineering Corp., has earned her certified administrative professional rating from the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Big 12's rep on rise
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Postseason conference tournaments offer one final chance to build the resume or make a miraculous run to the NCAA tournament.

Lawyers to question Leach
LUBBOCK - Mike Leach is expected to return to Lubbock later this week to answer questions under oath from attorneys for Texas Tech handling the former football coach's lawsuit against the school.

Dear Abby: Poem about the kitchen is a timeless piece
Dear Abby: My mother-in-law Edye was a wonderful cook and an accomplished hostess. Friends and family enjoyed being a part of her events, not only because of the food but also because she made everyone feel so welcome.

Dear Abby: Man has wife's OK to look, but not touch
Dear Abby: Regarding your answer to "Yoo-Hoo, I'm Over Here!" (Jan. 10), who was bothered by her husband's constant leering at women, you've got to be kidding. Men have been looking at young women since the beginning of time. My husband and his friends hold "office hours" every morning at our neighborhood coffeehouse. I've told him as long as he "touches" only with his eyes, there won't be a problem.

Heloise: Green olive dip a big hit
Dear Heloise: I am looking for a recipe for green olive dip or spread. I saw it in your column a few years ago and have misplaced it. Every time I have taken it to a covered-dish dinner, it has gone over very well. It can be served with a variety of crackers or with raw veggies. Thank you so much for helping me find this delicious dip. - Anne Hooper, Ventura, Calif.

Dr. Gott: FDA warns not to take Plavix, Prilosec together
Dear Dr. Gott: I have a heart condition and take both Plavix to prevent blood clots and Prilosec for stomach acid. I was recently informed there are new reports out that advise me not to take my Prilosec. What is this all about?

Brown wows
Amarilloan Lacey Brown's singing resonated with "American Idol" judges Tuesday night, and she'll find out later this week if her performance was good enough to vault her into the final 12 female contestants.

Heloise: Home is best for recovery
Dear Heloise: Regarding the letter from the nurse about visitors: Visitors should come when the patient is in the hospital, a few days before the person is to be released. At home is the last place I feel like entertaining visitors when I have come home from the hospital.

Penalty kick lifts Canyon to playoffs
As he prepared for a penalty kick with one minute left at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium, Canyon's Wayne Munger squatted to the artificial turf and pulled the collar of his white jersey over his face.

PD grad Hood sets appearance in city
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman and Palo Duro graduate Evander "Ziggy" Hood plans to be available for autographs Thursday near Westgate Mall, according to a Cumulus Broadcasting news release.

All about the Venom
The Amarillo Venom open the Indoor Football League season Saturday on the road.

Tulsa Oilers at Amarillo Gorillas
Today's game is the first of a season-ending six-game road trip for Tulsa, which is three points behind Missouri for the final playoff spot in the Northern Conference.

A hitman without a position
SURPRISE, Ariz. - David Murphy has started in every slot of the Texas batting order - one through nine. Michael Young and Ian Kinsler are his only teammates who have played more games for the Rangers the past three seasons.

Mavs beat T'wolves for 12th win in row
MINNEAPOLIS - Shawn Marion had a season-high 29 points and 14 rebounds, and the Dallas Mavericks stretched the league's longest active winning streak to 12 games with a 125-112 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.

State to confront budget shortfall
AUSTIN - The Texas economy is apparently rebounding, but the turnaround won't be good enough to prevent a shortfall of at least $11 billion for the next two years, a legislative panel was told Monday.

Coast Guard begins hearing on oil spill
PORT ARTHUR - An 800-foot tanker struggling with poor visibility and strong winds apparently failed to center itself in a narrow waterway off the Gulf of Mexico, possibly contributing to a collision with a barge guided by a tugboat that caused the largest oil spill in Texas in 15 years, according to testimony and evidence presented at a Coast Guard hearing Tuesday.

River Road implements higher standard
River Road High School's graduation ceremony this year will include only those students who passed their courses and all tests required by the state for a diploma.

Forecasters anticipating active tornado season
OKLAHOMA CITY - Forecasters say a wetter-than-usual winter and a jet stream ripping over the part of the country known as "Tornado Alley" could lead to an active spring - perhaps starting with the strong twister that nicked a small western Oklahoma town Monday night.

Fifth DWI lands man in prison
A Memphis man was sentenced to 13 years in state prison Monday following his fifth conviction for driving while intoxicated.

Your turn
To the people on the south side St. Francis Avenue at Pavillard Drive, thanks a lot for wasting water on Saturday. It was raining, and yet you had to water your huge yard. Not only was it raining then, we had a very good chance of much more rain during the week. I hate to think of what it will be like for our children and grandchildren because we were too selfish and stupid to conserve water! Turn it to the right.

Letter: Teach creative arts
Creative and dramatic arts should be taught in every school, if not in the whole country, then at least in Texas.

Future plans
When second-grade students at St. Andrew's School returned from a visit to National Weather Service offices last week, they had picked up at least three new meteorological terms: meteorologist, humidity and barometric pressure. They also learned how weather signals are gathered and analyzed by trained meteorologists.

Community briefs
Chuck Clarke Country will play country and variety music from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday at the VFW, 1401 W. 8th Ave. Cover $2.50. Public welcome. Call 806-373-3521.

ASCA menu
Meals are served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Amarillo Senior Citizens Association, 1200 S. Polk St., for a suggested donation of $5 for members, $6 for nonmembers. All meals include salad, dessert and a beverage.

Family project puts Head Start students behind the wheel
Cranes, planes and automobiles circled an indoor thoroughfare on Feb. 26 at Region 16 Head Start's Cleveland Street Center. Surrounded by as many spectators, 186 vehicles powered by underaged drivers were part of an annual Transportation Parade at the center.

Sign-up Roundup
Boys and girls in kindergarten through sixth grade can play HOOP 10 basketball from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday at Court Time, 6205 S.W. 34th Ave. Cost is $10 at the door. For more information call, Johnna Pointer at 806-681-0331 or e-mail her at hoop10basketball@yahoo.com. On the Web: www.hoop10.com.

Wesley menu
Meals are served at Wesley Community Senior Center, 1615 S. Roberts St. Breakfast is served from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Lunch is served at noon. There is a $3 charge. Meals are for seniors, 55 and older.

Nonprofit brief
Fit for the Cure will be conducted at Dillard's from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. Wacoal, a maker of women's undergarments, will donate $2 to Susan G. Komen Foundation for every fit from Wacoal fit specialists. To make an appointment, call 806-358-7771, Ext. 5202.